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'''Leverne Edward Perry''' (January 4, 1932 – March 27, 2016) was a businessman, [[television]] personality, public official, rodeo performer and promoter, and civic figure in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]].

'''Leverne Edward Perry''' (January 4, 1932 – March 27, 2016) was a businessman, [[television]] personality, public official, rodeo performer and promoter, and civic figure in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]].

The only child of Jesse Leverne Perry (1908-1993) and Goretha G. Perry (1912-2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Perry&GSfn=Goretha&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=38916237&df=all&|title=Goretha G. Perry|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref> Perry was born in rural Sieper in Rapides Parish west of Alexandria. An accomplished [[cowboy]], Perry traveled the rodeo circuit across the American South to [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City]]. Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton, a long-time Perry friend, recalled that Perry pioneering the art of jumping off a horse on the left side, instead of the customary right side.<ref name=obit/>

The only child of Jesse Leverne Perry (1908-1993) and Goretha G. Perry (1912-2001),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Perry&GSfn=Goretha&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=38916237&df=all&|title=Goretha G. Perry|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref> Perry was born in rural Sieper in Rapides Parish west of Alexandria. An accomplished [[cowboy]], Perry traveled the rodeo circuit across the American South to [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City]]. Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton, a long-time Perry friend, recalled that Perry pioneering the art of jumping off a horse on the left side, instead of the customary right side.<ref name=obit/>

From 1960 to 1966, he was host on KALB-TV, the [[NBC]] outlet in Alexandria, of the children's program, ''Leverne Perry and the Little Wranglers.'' He had a particular concern for special-needs children and founded the program "Horses and Handicaps." Through his role as president of the Amicus Club Rodeo, he was a fundraiser for St. Mary’s Residential Training School in Boyce, north of Alexandria. He owned Leverne Perry Shoes in Alexandria and served during the 1970s as a member and president of the Rapides Parish Police Jury, the equivalent of the county commission in most other states.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2016/03/28/service-set-perry-champion-louisiana-quarter-horses/82347684/|title=Service set for Perry, champion for Louisiana quarter horses|author=Melissa Gregory|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=March 28, 2016|accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref>

From 1960 to 1966, he was host on KALB-TV, the [[NBC]] outlet in Alexandria, of the children's program, ''Leverne Perry and the Little Wranglers.'' He had a particular concern for special-needs children and founded the program "Horses and Handicaps." Through his role as president of the Amicus Club Rodeo, he was a fundraiser for St. Mary’s Residential Training School in Boyce, north of Alexandria. He owned Leverne Perry Shoes in Alexandria and served during the 1970s as a member and president of the Rapides Parish Police Jury, the equivalent of the county commission in most other states.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2016/03/28/service-set-perry-champion-louisiana-quarter-horses/82347684/|title=Service set for Perry, champion for Louisiana quarter horses|author=Melissa Gregory|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=March 28, 2016|accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref>